General Motors said it was collaborating with Ventec Life Systems, in cooperation with StopTheSpread.org, the nation's coordinated private sector response to the COVID-19, to increase production of Ventec's respiratory care products to support the growing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ventec will use GM's logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more of the critically important ventilators.
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To support these efforts, StopTheSpread.org will continue to unite business managers across the country to collect resources to complement and support government efforts.
"With GM's help, Ventec will increase ventilator production," said CEO Chris Kiple.
"By tapping their expertise, GM is enabling us to get more ventilators to more hospitals much faster. This partnership will help save lives."
"We are working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production of their critically important respiratory products to support our country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO.
"We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis."
"Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST! Go for it auto execs, lets see how good you are?" President Trump tweeted last night (22 March) , after invoking the US Defense Production Act last week.
The investor website seekingalpha.com said carmakers had already shuttered their operations but the statement suggested they could be back at work to help the country with a potential health crisis.
While it could be difficult to retool an auto assembly line, the companies have 3D printers for components, 'clean rooms' in some plants that could meet FDA standards and Tyvek suits used in paint shops that could be re-purposed.
